imho, someone is causing a great deal of fuss about protesting their innocence, and taking things a bit far wrt imminent prosecutions.

So if someone wrongly accused you of a truly evil and monstrous crime in a highly public manner to a very wide audience indeed would you just mutter 'not me, I'm innocent' into your breakfast cornflakes and leave it at that?

I'll tell you what, if someone were to do the same to me as they did to lord macalpine, I for one wouldn't stop at a pound of flesh!

Sorry, I didn't point the finger at anyone in particular so don't sue me thanks.

Well it appears to be fairly obvious that there may have been a case of mistaken identity which is in the news at the moment.

Yes, when I was arrested (more likely "taken in") for a crime I didn't commit, all I did was protest my innocence and they eventually let me go home - no hard feelings; the police made a mistake. I certainly didn't make it my business to sue for wrongful arrest, loss of earnings, defamation of character etc.

WTM you give the impression of being a very vindictive person. Didn't you stand for office some time ago? Do you have problems with road rage? I don't think I'd like to meet you.

WTM you give the impression of being a very vindictive person. Didn't you stand for office some time ago? Do you have problems with road rage? I don't think I'd like to meet you.

This is precisely how things get started. Questions have been asked. The insinuation is there that I have problems with road rage. It's been posed as a question, but I can guarantee someone will take it as fact.

Dont defend yourself and the whisperers and lurkers will believe (and pass on that there must be something to it. Defend yourself, and others will comment about protesting too loud.

I'm afraid your wrong! There can be few crimes that one can be accused of that are more heinous in nature than child abuse. For a public figure to be accused is doubly damaging, particularly when that figure is completely innocent.

Do you not think that the level of damages that the BBC have agreed to pay out to this person, not show just how serious the damage to his reputation this wholly false accusation has been?

You say: I certainly didn't make it my business to sue for wrongful arrest, loss of earnings, defamation of character etc.

With respect, that is because like me you are a nobody! Not a well known public figure whose reputation once lost in this way is very difficult to restore, for the reasons fourm member points out to you in his post of 09.38.

As has been shown, people who casually libel others using what they think is the anonymity of the internet are in for a very rude awakening, I would reflect on this fact if I were you!

These accusations,like being called a 'snitch',are apt to have someone killed and i do believe that an innocent man has died as a result of such a few years ago.The BBC are being halfhearted in their 'fiscal apology' although money is no replacement for a lost reputation.

flak999's final paragraph (10.01) says it all,i hope the police investigate fully these peoples vicious comments which have placed McAlpine in potential danger.

Like fm I had no idea what this thread was all about, until I read further.

Now I know I can't believe that anyone would seriously write such tosh - people, (and it was people, not just the BBC) can accuse you of murder, rape, paedophilia, and anything else, but you mustn't protest or people will think it's true.